When it comes to spirit merchants and independent bottlers there has been a growing set of players in the market. However, if want a level of authenticity which comes from history and tradition then they don’t come any older than Berry Bros & Rudd.
Operating out of the same shop in London since 1698 (plus quite a few more around the world) they have two Royal Warrants from the Queen and The Prince of Wales (who likes his Laphroaig). For more information you can dive into the history on their website https://www.bbr.com/about/history
So what is this Blended Scotch Whisky with a funny name then? Well, it’s a collection of age statement blends with 3 bottles all coming in at 43% ABV and aged to 21, 25 and 35 years. Blended Scotch Whiskies for those who don’t know is a marriage of single malt and grain whisky from Scottish distilleries. Incidentally, the age statements on bottles are also the youngest age of any single component so quite regularly there are going to be a range of spirit ages used in any one recipe.
This is a lusciously rounded Scotch whisky, vatted together from casks chosen by our Spirits Curator Doug McIvor. It epitomises the coherence and pleasure we seek in blended whiskies. Some sherried Speyside malt forms the core here, giving classic fruitcake touches. These are ably supported by beguilingly sweet white chocolate notes so indicative of long-matured grain whisky. I’d be thrilled to have a glass at six or eight o’clock, or even both, bookending an evening meal beautifully.
Rob Whitehead, Spirits Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Mar 2022)
My Thoughts
Colour – deep orange
Nose – sweet buttery popcorn and fizzy sweets. The guilty pleasure kind from a traditional sweet shop. There is more nostalgia in tinned peaches and cloves as well
Palate – The syrup on those peaches is full of sugar and made for a viscous mix. Sure it follows the nose but it’s not a bad thing
Finish – Touch of oak wood sap and bitter grapefruit and generally citric
A summer blend with really good well aged whiskies. Ok, at £88 it is expensive but I think it’s worth it. Very little can be bought cheaply these days anyway
Malted 